Cigar and cigarette lighter



Dec. 4, 1956 L. w. BUSBlN CIGAR AND CIGARETTE LIGHTER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed June 11, 1954 I NVENT OR 1 [mas/(cs I Buss/w BY aJMm Eu ATTORNEYS1956 w. BUSBIN CIGAR AND CIGARETTE LIGHTER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June11, 1954 INVENTOR limes? IK Base/u ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent Q CIGAR AND CIGARETTE LIGHTER Lawrence W. Busbin,Charlotte, N. C.

Application June 11, 1954, Serial No. 436,163

Claims. (Cl. 21932) This invention relates to cigar and cigarettelighters and, more especially, to an improved portable lighterreceptacle for use with a conventional lighter unit of the low-voltagetype usually provided in automotive vehicles.

It is an object of this invention to provide a cigar and cigarettelighter which may be mounted on a suitable base to serve as either aself-contained desk lighter or table top lighter or as a floor standlighter, or may be mounted in a suitable article of furniture tofunction as an efiicient lighter in the home, office or any othersuitable place supplied with a standard line voltage circuit.

It is another object of this invention to provide a cigar and cigarettelighter of the type described suitably connected in an electric circuitwith an unique make-andbreak contact switch and a step-down transformer.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a device of thetype described wherein the make-andbreak contact switch remains open toshut off the current to the transformer when the lighter is not beingheated, said switch being movable to close the circuit upon the lighterbeing moved to energizing position.

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objectswill appear as the description proceeds when taken in connection withthe accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a top plan view of thecigar and cigarette lighter assembly mounted in a suitable base;

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken substantiallyalong line 2-2 in Figure 1 and showing the lighter unit in de-energizedposition;

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the cigar andcigarette lighter assembly removed from the base and showing the lighterunit in energized position;

Figure 4 is an enlarged isometric view of the receptacle casing removedfrom the base and with the lighter unit and switch removed therefrom;

Figure 5 is an exploded somewhat schematic view of the assembly of themake-and-break contact switch.

Referring more specially to the drawings, the numeral 16 designates ahollow base or housing which is shown as being substantially trapezoidalin cross section and which is provided with a depression 11 in the topthereof for the accommodation of a suitable ash tray A or the like. Thetop of the housing is also provided with a well or opening for thereception of a suitable receptacle casing or bracket 13 in which areceptacle 14 is mounted for receiving a cigar and cigarette lighterunit of the usual type used in automotive vehicles and which is broadlydesignated at 15. It should be noted that the configuration of the base10 is not critical. The casing 13 may be secured in the top wall of thebase 10, by any suitable means such as welding.

Thereceptacle 14 is shown in the form of a tubular metal shell having anout-turned flange 16 at its mouth for engagement wtih the outer surfaceof the casing 13.

The receptacle or shell 14 is provided with a reduced portion 20 at itsinner end, remote from the flange 16. The reduced portion 20 looselypenetrates the inner or bottom wall of said casing 13 and is providedwith rolled threads whereby the flange 16 of the shell 14 may be snuglyengaged with the casing 13 by a nut 21 mounted on the reduced portion20.

An insulating member 22 is threadably secured in the reduced portion 20.The insulating member 22 surrounds a metallic sleeve 23 longitudinallypenetrated by a bolt 24 which is secured in sleeve 23 by a nut 25.

The head of the bolt 24 has a bi-metallic disk 27 suitably securedthereon. The lower end of a lighter unit 15 is normally spaced above thebi-metallic disk 27 and comprises a contact ring or cup 28 surrounding aheating element or resister 30. The body portion of the lighter unit 15is preferably provided with a peripheral flange 29, said flange 29 beingspaced above the contact ring 28 and being of larger diameter than saidbody portion.

A coil spring 31 surrounds the reduced medial body portion of thelighter unit 15. The lower end of the spring 31 bears against anin-turned flange 32 forming the bottom of a cup-like member 33 fixedlysecured to the inner surface of the shell and the upper surface of thespring 31 bears against a shoulder formed at 34 in the body portion ofthe lighter unit 15.

The bi-metallic disk 27 has secured to its peripheral portionsmonometallic latching-and-contact arms 35, said arms 35 being adapted toengage and grip between them the contact ring 30 when the lighter 15 ispushed to its inner position as shown in Figure 3.

The lighter assembly thus described may be of the type clearly shown inPatent No. 2,486,366 issued to Joseph Youhouse and dated October 25,1949, and a further description thereof is thus deemed unnecessary. Itis with a lighter unit of this type that the present invention isparticularly adapted to be associated. This type of lighter unit isadapted for use in association with a low voltage electrical system, andthe instant invention enables such a lighter to be used in householdsand the like served by relatively higher voltage electrical systems of,say, volts, for example The only modification required in theconventional lighter assembly is to form an opening or window 40 in theshell 14 of the lighter assembly 15.

As heretofore stated, the shell 14 is mounted in a casing or housing 13which, in turn, is mounted in an opening in the upper surface or top ofa base 10. The base 10 comprises a plurality of side Walls 41 and abottom 42 extending between the lower edges of said side walls 41. Athin felt cover 43 is preferably secured to the under surface of thebottom 42 to protect the surface upon which the base 10 may bepositioned.

A step-down transformer broadly indicated at 44 is mounted within thebase 10 and is secured to the bottom 42 as by a bracket 45. A wire 46leads from one side of the primary coil of the transformer 44 to asuitable source of electrical energy, not shown. The other side of theprimary coil is connected by a wire 48 to a terminal 47 secured to amake-and-break switch assembly broadly indicated at 55. One side of thesecondary coil of the transformer 44 has a wire 50 leading therefromwhich is grounded to the casing 13 at 51. The other side of thesecondary coil is connected by a wire 52 to the bolt 24. The circuit iscompleted by a wire 53 extending from another terminal 54 of themake-and-break switch 55 to the source of electrical energy.

The essence of the instant invention resides in the make-and-breakswitch 55 which serves to break the circuit to' the transformer 44 whenthe lighter unit 15 is not being energized. In the absence of themake-and-break switch 55,-the primary coil of the transformer 44 remainsenergized evenafter the lighter unit 15 is removed from the receptacle14 or is in retracted position as shown in Figure 2.

The casing or bracket 13 forms a part of the improved make-and-breakswitch assembly 55. The casing 13 preferably is open on opposite sidesand its top and bottom walls in Figures 2, 3 and 4 are provided withrespective bores 56 and 5'? in which the lighter receptacle 14 ismounted in the manner heretofore described. The lefthand side wall ofthe casing 13 in Figures 2, 3 and 4 is provided with spaced openings 60and 61 through which the respective terminals 47 and 54 loosely extend.A thin substantially rectangular insulation member or plate 62 having alower in-turned edge 63 is suitably secured to the inner surface of thewall having the openings 6% and 61 therein.

A substantially J-shaped metallic leaf spring member 64 has an upturnedlower .end 65 which is secured, by means to be later described, to thelower portion of the insulation member 62. A rectangular block 66,formed from a suitable insulation materialsuch as hard fiber or thelike, is positioned between the portion of the insulation plate 62 andthe body portion of the leaf spring member 64 to serve as a bearing forthe leaf spring member 64.

The leaf spring member 64, its upturned edge 65, the insulation plate 62and block 66 are suitably secured together as by a rivet 67 which alsoserves to secure the terminal 47 to the lower upturned end 65 of theleaf spring member 64.

A lever bumper or cam member 70 is suitably secured to the surface ofthe leaf spring member 64 remote from the insulating plate 62 and isprovided with a projection 71 on its outer surface adapted to extendthrough the opening or window 40 in the shell or receptacle 14. Thelever bumper 70 is preferably made from an insulation material and isheld in place by a pair of rivets 72 which also extend through asuitable reinforcing member 73 having a first primary metallic contact74 fixed to or integral with the upper end thereof. The member 73 andcontact 74 are secured to the surface of the spring member 64 remotefrom the lever bumper 70. A second primary metallic contact 75 issuitably secured to the inner surface of the insulating member 62, as bymetallic pins or rivets '76, at least one of which serves to secureterminal 54 to plate 62 and thereby serves as a conductor betweencontact 75 and terminal 54.

When the lighter unit is in retracted or raised position as shown inFigure 2, the contacts 74 and 75 are in open or spaced relationship.Thus, current cannot flow to the transformer 44 whenever the lighterunit 15 is removed from energizing position.

The circuit to the heating element 39 and transformer are closedsubstantially simultaneously by moving the lighter unit 315 downwardlyto cause the body portion or flange 29 thereof to engage theprotuberance 71 on the lever bumper 74 The frictional engagement of thelighter unit 15 with the protuberance 71 causes the leaf spring member64 to move to the left from the position of Figure 2 to that of Figure 3thereby moving the primary contact 7 into engagement with the contact 75to close the circuit.

This causes current of standard or relatively high volt-v age to flowthrough the primary coil of the transformer 44- where it is reduced orstepped down to relatively low voltage and passes through the wire 52and the bolt 24 to the bi-metallic disk 27, the contact arms 35 and thecontact ring 2% to activate the heating element 30 in the lighter unitAs soon as the heating element 30 has reached a predeterminedtemperature the bi-metallic disk expands causing outward movement of thecontact arms 35 thereby releasing the lighter unit 15 and allowing thespring 31 to move the same upwardly within the casing to the positionshown in Figure 2 in the usual manner.

This upward movement of the lighter unit 15 moves the flange 29 on thebody portion of the lighter unit 15 out of engagement with theprotuberance '71 thereby permitting the steel spring member 64 to movethe lever bumper 70 to the right in Figures 2 and 3, thereby separatingthe contacts 74 and '75 to again break the circuit to the transformer54. Of course, the lighter unit 15 can then be removed from thereceptacle for use in the usual manner.

it is thus clear that current will not flow to the transformer 44- anytime the lighter unit 15 is not in operative position. It is equallyclear that the fiow of current will be supplied to the transformer 44-and to the heating element 3% in the lighter unit 15 whenever thelighter unit 15 is pushed inwardly to operative position.

I s thus seen that there is provided an improved makel; switch inassociation with a step-down transformer and a cigar and cigarettelighter wherein energization of the transformer is prevented when thelighter is in inoperative position.

In the drawings and specification there has been set forth a preferredembodiment of the invention and, although specific terms are employed,they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not forpurposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in theclaims.

I claim:

1. In a device comprising a base having a receptacle therein for thereception of a member removably mounted therein and said member having aheating element, a transformer having a primary coil and a secondarycoil disposed within said base and said transformer being interposed ina wiring circuit between a source of electrical energy and said memberhaving the heating element; the combination of a make-and-break switchdisposed in said circuit between said source of energy and saidtransformer, said make-and-break switch comprising a casing, a leverbumper vertically positioned in said casing and frictionally engageablewith said member having the heating element, a leaf spring membervertically positioned in said casing parallel to said lever bumper andto which said lever bumper is secured, a first contact secured to saidspring member, a second contact secured to said casing, and said firstcontact being engageable with said second contact to close the circuitto said heating element upon the member having said heating elementfrictionally engaging said lever bumper.

2. In a device comprising a base having a well therein for the receptionof a member having a heating element therein and said member beingremovably mounted in said well, a transformer having a primary coil anda secondary coil disposed within said base, the primary coil of saidtransformer being connected to a source of electrical energy and thesecondary coil of said transformer being connectable to said memberhaving the heating element therein, the combination of a make-andbreakswitch connected to said source of energy and to said transformer, saidmake-and-break switch comprising a lever bumper having a protuberancethereon frictionally engageable with said member having the heatingelement, a spring member fixed to said lever bumper and extendingparallel thereto, a first contact secured to one end of said springmember, a bearing secured to the other end of said spring member, acasing substantially enclosing said make-and-break switch, and a secondcons tact secured to said casing engageable with said first contact.

3. The combination with a member having a heating primary circuitcomprising a cam normally extending parallel to and in engagement withthe outer surface of said receptacle, said receptacle having an openingtherethrough, a projection on said cam normally extending through saidopening into the path of said member upon insertion of said member intothe receptacle, a leaf spring member to which the cam is secured andnormally urging said projection on the cam through said opening, a firstcontact carried by said leaf spring member, a second contact normallyspaced closely adjacent the first contact, and said contacts beingconnected in series with said primary circuit whereby, upon insertion ofsaid member into said receptacle, the member will engage the projectionon said cam to move the contacts into engagement to close said primarycircuit substantially simultaneously with the closing of the circuit tothe secondary of said transformer.

4. In a structure according to claim 3, a bracket having spaced endwalls penetrated by said receptacle and to which the receptacle issecured, said receptacle having at least one side wall extending betweensaid end walls and spaced from the side of said receptacle having saidopening therein, said side wall having a pair of spaced openingstherein, an insulation member secured t0 the inner surface of said sidewall and closing the openings in the side wall, a first and a secondterminal disposed in the corresponding side wall openings, firstconductor means securing the end of said leaf spring member remote fromthe first contact to the insulation member, second conductor meanssecuring the second contact to said insulation member, said firstconductor means also serving to secure the first terminal to theinsulation member, said second conductor means also serving to securethe second terminal to the insulation member, and said first and secondterminals being connected in series with said primary circuit wherebyengagement of said first and second contacts will close said primarycircuit.

5. In an electric lighter having a receptacle adapted to receive alighter unit provided with a heating element and adapted to be movedinto and out of energizing position, a switch associated with thelighter unit and arranged in circuit therewith, said switch comprising alever bumper extending parallel to and in engagement with the outersurface of the receptacle, a projection on said lever bumper extendingthrough the wall of the receptacle into the path of the lighter unit, aspring member normally maintaining the lever bumper projection in thepath of the lighter unit, a pair of opposed contacts and one of saidcontacts being carried by said lever bumper adjacent one end thereof andresponsive to movement of the lighter unit into and out of energizingposition for engaging and disengaging the other contact point to closeand open the circuit.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,865,199 Martel June 28, 1932 2,262,484 Bahr Nov. 11, 1941 2,329,844Lehmann Sept. 21, 1943 2,386,168 Pattberg Oct. 2, 1945 2,635,171 JonesApr. 14, 1953

